Friday, January 13, 2017

Irish bishops’ Ad Limina visit to Pope Francis and to the Holy See

From this Sunday 15 January, for ten days, members of the Irish
Catholic Bishops’ Conference will undertake their Ad Limina Apostolorum
visit to Rome – or “to the threshold of the Apostles” – a reference to
the pilgrimage to the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul that all bishops
are required to make.

The Ad Limina normally occurs every five years
and its purpose is to strengthen the bishops’ communion with the
universal Church and with the successor of Saint Peter, Pope Francis.

Please see below: - Six ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ concerning the Ad Limina visit of the Irish bishops - List of Irish bishops and diocesan administrators participating in the 2017 Ad Limina visit - Explanation of the role of the Holy See dicasteries to be visited by Irish bishops

Frequently Asked Questions What will the bishops’ 2017 Ad Limina visit to Rome involve?
The bishops’ visit which combines prayer including at the tombs of the
apostles, a series of meetings that with the staff of the various
diacasteries (departments) of the Roman Curia in the Holy See to share
their pastoral experience, and a meeting with the Holy Father.

Which Irish bishops are attending the Ad Limina pilgrimage?
There are 26 dioceses on the island of Ireland and all serving bishops –
or a diocesan administrator if the diocese is currently not being led
by a bishop - will be taking part in this pilgrimage.

Please see below
the list of bishops and diocesan administrators attending the 2017 Ad
Limina visit.

With whom will Irish bishops be meeting?
During the visit the bishops will meet with the relevant staff of the
various dicasteries of the Curia. The dicasteries have special
significance and importance because of the close connection that exists
between them and the Pope in his mission of leadership in the universal
Church.

Bishops will discuss the situation of the Church in Ireland at
this time, make known pastoral initiatives, to discuss specific issues
of concern, ask questions, seek information, and furnish clarifications.
A list of the dicastaries which the bishops intend to visit is
available below.

What might be contained in a diocesan report prepared for the Ad Limina visit?
Prior to the Ad Limina visit, each diocesan bishop submits a report on
his diocese to the Holy See.

The report from each diocese describes the
actual situation of the Church in that diocese (overview of the present
situation, facts and figures) for which the diocesan bishop is
responsible, its challenges, its relations with non-Catholic and
non-Christian religious communities, with civil society and with the
public authorities.

It is forwarded to the Holy See in advance in order
that it can be studied, synthesised and a summary presented to the
Pope. This allows the Holy Father to acquaint himself with the
situation of each diocese prior to meeting with the bishops.

When will the bishops meet with Pope Francis?
On Friday 20 January the bishops will collectively have an audience
with Pope Francis.

The President of the Irish Bishops’ Conference,
Archbishop Eamon Martin, will make a reply on behalf of the bishops.

Where will the bishops celebrate Mass during their Ad Limina visit?
As part of their Ad Limina visit bishops will concelebrate Mass in the
Pontifical Irish College as well as at the four main papal basilicas in
Rome, as detailed below: - Mass at the tomb of Saint Peter will be
celebrated on Monday 16 January at 7.30am. Principal Celebrant,
Archbishop Eamon Martin. - Mass in the Basilica of Saint John
Lateran will be celebrated on Wednesday 18 January at 4.00pm. Principal
Celebrant, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. - Mass at the Basilica of
Saint Paul outside the Walls will be celebrated on Friday 20 January at
4.30pm. Principal Celebrant, Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA. - Mass
in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major will be celebrated on Saturday 21
January at 4.30pm. Principal Celebrant, Archbishop Michael Neary.

Explanation of the role of dicasteries of the Holy See to be visited by Irish bishops
- Secretariat of State is the dicastery of the Roman Curia which works
most closely with Pope Francis in the exercise of his universal mission.
- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith promotes and safeguards
the doctrine on faith and morals throughout the Catholic world. -
Congregation for the Oriental Churches works with the Oriental Catholic
Churches to assist their development alongside the liturgical,
disciplinary and spiritual patrimony of the Latin Rite and the heritage
of the various Oriental Christian traditions. - Congregation for
Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments deals with the
regulation and promotion of the sacred liturgy, primarily of the
sacraments, without prejudice to the competence of the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith. - Congregation for Bishops oversees the
selection of new bishops pending appointment by the Pope and also
schedules Ad Limina visits. - Congregation for the Evangelization of
Peoples directs and coordinates throughout the world the work of
spreading the Gospel as well as missionary cooperation, without
prejudice to the competence of the Congregation for Oriental Churches. - Congregation for Causes of the Saints is responsible for dealing with the causes of candidates for sainthood.
- Congregation for Catholic Education deals with matters related to
Catholic education and Catholic educational institutions at primary,
post primary and at third level, including Catholic universities and
faculties and Catholic institutes of learning. - Congregation for
Clergy considers matters regarding the pastoral ministry of diocesan
priests and deacons and the resources available to them for the exercise
of this ministry; it also deals with matters relating to seminaries and
vocations. - Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life
and for Societies of Apostolic Life is responsible for everything which
concerns institutes of consecrated life (orders and religious
congregations, both of men and of women, secular institutes) and
societies of apostolic life regarding their government, discipline,
studies, goods, rights, and privileges. - Dicastery for Laity,
Family, and Life established in 2016 is competent in matters that
pertain to the Holy See regarding the promotion of life, the apostolate
of the lay faithful, the pastoral care of the family and its mission
according to God’s plan and for the safeguard and support of human life.
- The Secretariat for Communication was established in 2015 as the
single point of reference for communication which has become
increasingly complex and interdependent, reflecting the current media
reality. It is charged with encouraging the use of modern forms of
communication and to examine the ways in which they are valid
instruments of evangelization. - The Pontifical Commission for the
Protection of Minors is an advisory body at the service of the Holy
Father. The purpose of the Commission is to propose initiatives to the
Pope, according to the procedures and determinations specified in its
statutes, for the purposes of promoting local responsibility in the
particular Churches for the protection of all minors and vulnerable
adults. - Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New
Evangelization works to deepen the theological and pastoral sense of the
New Evangelization, promoting to the Bishops’ Conferences the study,
the dissemination and the implementation of the Papal Magisterium on the
New Evangelization. This Pontifical Council also deals with matters
related to catechetics. - Pontifical Council for the Promotion of
Christian Unity engages in ecumenical work through initiatives and
activities, labouring to restore unity among Christians. -
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace promotes justice and peace in
the world in accordance with the Gospel and the social teaching of the
Church. - Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and
Itinerant Peoples has the task of studying and providing pastoral care
to “people on the move” such as: migrants, exiles, refugees, displaced
people, seafarers, nomads, circus people, pilgrims and tourists. -
Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue promotes mutual
understanding, respect and collaboration between Catholics and the
followers of others religious traditions; to encourage the study of
religions; and, to promote the formation of persons dedicated to
dialogue. - The Pontifical Council for Culture dates from the Second
Vatican Council. A whole section of that Council’s Pastoral
Constitution on the Church – Gaudium et Spes – emphasises the
fundamental importance of culture for the full development of the human
person, the many ways in which salvation and culture are linked, and the
mutual enrichment of the Church and cultures throughout the history of
civilisations. - Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts deals with
matters related to examining the place of canon law in the life of the
Church. - Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Healthcare
Workers promotes the work of formation, study and action carried out by
the diverse Catholic international organisations in the healthcare field
as well as other groups and associations which work in this sector.
- The Pontifical Council COR UNUM for Human and Christian Development
promotes the care of the Catholic Church for the needy, thereby
encouraging human fellowship and making manifest the charity of Christ.
The objectives of COR UNUM are (i) To assist the Pope and be his
instrument for carrying out special initiatives in the field of
humanitarian actions when disasters occur, or in the field of integral
human promotion; (ii) To foster the catechesis of Charity and encourage
the faithful to give a concrete witness to evangelical charity; and
(iii) To encourage and coordinate the initiatives of Catholic
organisations through the exchange of information and by promoting
fraternal cooperation in favour of integral human development. - The
Apostolic Penitentiary formerly called the Supreme Tribunal of the
Apostolic Penitentiary, is one of the three tribunals of the Roman
Curia. The Apostolic Penitentiary is chiefly a tribunal of mercy,
responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sins in the
Catholic Church. The work of the Apostolic Penitentiary falls mainly
into these categories: (i) the absolution of excommunications latæ
sententiæ reserved to the Holy See, (ii) the dispensation of sacramental
impediments reserved to the Holy See, and (iii) the issuance and
governance of indulgences. - The Roman Rota generally deals with
appeals from around the world in canon law cases concerning applications
for marriage annulments. - The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic
Signatura is the highest judicial authority in the Church apart from the
Pope himself, who as supreme ecclesiastical judge is the final point of
appeal for any ecclesiastical judgment.